Hoisting apparatus



April 2, 1968 s. KISSILOV HOISTING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1,

Filed Aug. 5, 1966 April 1968 s. KISSILOV 3,375,947

HOISTING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 5, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 5/40/70 Kay/my April 1968 s. KISSILOV 3,375,947

HOI STING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 5, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent 3,375,947 HOISTING APPARATUS Shlomo Kissilov, 83 Arlozarolf SL, Haifa, Israel Filed Aug. 5, 1966, Ser. No. 570,558 10 Claims. (Cl. 214-674) This invention relates to hoisting apparatus. More particularly, it relates to the type of hoisting apparatus generally referred to as fork lifts.

It is an important object of this invention to provide a fork lift which is collapsible so as to enable it to occupy a minimum of volume.

It is another object to provide a fork lift in accordance with the preceding object which is adapted to be mounted on a larger conveyance such as an automobile vehicle i.e., a truck whereby it can be borne to different locations by such truck and dismounted at such locations for operation thereat.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided a hoisting apparatus comprising an automotive fork lift vehicle having a body, a fork lift, means for mounting the fork lift on said vehicle in a substantially vertical position to enable the fork lift to be operated for hoisting purposes and for disposing the fork lift in a horizontal and collapsed position under the body, and attachment means onthe vehicle for adapting the vehicle to be attached to a conveyance having a body constructed to receive the attachment means at its base.

*For a better understanding of the invention together With other and further objects thereof, reference is had to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing and its scope is pointed out in the "appended claims.

In the drawing, FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional view of an illustrative embodiment of a fork lift in its collapsed state mounted at the base of a body of a truck so as to enable it to be borne thereby;

FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional view of the fork lift according to the invention unmounted from the track and in its collapsed or minimum volume occupying space;

FIG. 3 is a three-dimensional view of the fork lift shown in FIG.2 in its un'collapsed state, i.e., in its opper-a'ting condition;

FIG. 4 is a side elevat-ional view of the fork lift in its operative condition showing the lifting platformin a lowermost and in an elevated position;

FIG. 5 shows a front elevational view of the fork lift with the lifting platform thereof in an elevated position;

FIG. 6 is a side elev'ational view of the fork lift in the mounted position at the base of the track;

FIG. 7 is a three-dimensional view of the stable corner bracket employed in the invent-ion;

FIG. 8 is a three-dimensional view of the movable corner bracket;

FIG. 9 is a three-dimensional view piston and the housing therefor;

FIG. 10 is a three-dimensional view of a mechanism for stopping the platform;

FIG. 11 is a three-dimensional view mechanism and associated structures;

FIGURES 12, 13, 14 and 15 show the platform, the platform axle, the securing bolts and the lifting arms, respectively.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 to 3, the fork lift comprises the usual body 1, driving wheels 2, steering wheel 3 and seat 4 of automotive fork lifts. Steering wheel 3 functions to operate a steering assembly 6 and is operatively connected to the front axle 7. A pair of handles 8 for operating the fork are associated with steering assembly 6 so as to be readily accessible to the operator. A pair of handles 9 are correspondingly associated with of the pushing of the lift-holding 3,375,947 Patented Apr. 2, 1968 ice steering assembly 6 and are for operating the lift. The handle designated by numerals 10 and I l at the rear of body 1 are provided for respectively enabling the fork lift from the rear during the attachment to the truck 52, such attachment being effected by an attach ment head 13. A wheel 12 is provided for enabling the steering of the fork lift from the rear. Structure 5 is an attachment to the front axle.

The left assembly as shown in FIG. 3 comprises an upper li-ft whose body 17 and upper plate 16 are shown in FIG. 3 and a lower lift comprising a body 18. The structure '19 is the holding piston for the lift and the structure 20 is the moving piston for the lift, the upper lift being connected to the moving piston by an attachment 21. A pair of chains operatively associated with the lift both bear the designating numeral 22, the chains being mounted about chain bearings 23. The lift is provided with a fork lift platform 24 and a pair of lifting arms 25. The platform 24 is provided with two platform rills 28 and is rotatably mounted about a. platform axle 27. The structure 26 represents screwing bolts and the structures 29 are back-lugs of lifting arms 25.

A bracket 30 is provided as shown for stably carrying the lift and a bracket 31 is included for movably carrying the lift.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 to 15, as shown in FIG. 4, the attachment head 13 is actuated by a piston 14. The structure bearing the designating numeral the motor for the fork lift.

Gears 32 and 33 are provided for attaching the fork lift to the front wheels, the lift having a lower axle 34- carried in bearings 36. As shown in FIG. 7, bracket '30 is provided with a tab 36 which furnishes a stop point therefor. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the lift comprises a lower plate 37, the tabs 38 thereon providing a stop for the lift. The brackets 39 shown in FIG. 11 function as bearing carriers. The structures designated by the numerals 40, 4'1, 42, 43, 44 and 45 are structures for effecting the stopping of the platform, such as platform 24, in the operation of the lift.

A pushing piston 48 is provided at the base of body, the piston comprising a first part 47 and a second part 46 in telescoping arrangement and a back axle 49 (FIG. 4). The structure 50 is a housing for piston 48 for restraining the movements of piston 48. The structure bearing the designating numeral 50 is the carrying rails provided for carrying the fork lift at the base of the body of the truck 52.

In considering the operation of the invention disclosed in the figures, it is, of course, realized that the fork lift is hydraulically operated. It comprises the two-stage tower comprising the upper and lower li fts which is capable of rising and being folded, such capability being enabled by the movalble carrier bracket 31 which is mounted on the front axle. Bracket 31 can be rotated 120 degrees. The tower is supported by the stable carrier bracket 30 which is affixed to the front axle. As shown in FIG. 7, carrier bracket 30 has an accurate base and comprises a cross brace which aids in maintaining in position lifting arms 25 which are normally in the folded position, the lifting arms 2'5 being fold a ble degrees. Carrier 30 is furnished with a pair of pressure bearings 35 and is provided with a. stop 36 for movable carrier 31 whereby the stopping of the movable carrier is enabled when the tower is folded.

The distance between lifting arms 25 is adjustable, such adjustability being enabled by the use of teeth shown in -FIG. -12. Platform 24, when it is lowered to its lowermost position is automatically bolted at the final point in its downward movement by the set of timing gears 40, 441, 42 and 43 which are fixedly mounted on lift lower axle 34 as well on holding piston 19. When 15 represents the. tower is vertical, the stop apparatus of the platform, i.e., gears 46 and belts 45 can be turned 180. The gear relationship may suitably be 1:1.

The pushing piston 49 which is designed to comprise two portions 47 and 46 respectively is supported by housing 50 which prevents unnecessary movements thereby.

The fork lift is provided with two steering arrangements 3 and 12 respectively. Steering arrangement 3 is employed in the normal hoisting operations of the fork lift. Steering arrangement 12 is operative to move the fork after it has been folded under truck 52. Attachment head 13 on piston 14 enables the fixing into position of the truck of the fork lift at which point the fork lift enters into two rails which are attached to the base of the truck.

While there has been described what is considered to be. a'preferred embodiment of this invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that other and further changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention and it is intended in the appended claims to cover all such modifications as fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

.What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters, Patent of the US. is:

I. A hoisting apparatus comprising an automotive fork lift vehicle having a body, a fork lift, means for mounting, said fork lift on said vehicle in a substantially vertical position to enable said fork lift to be operated for hoisting purposesv and for swinging said fork lift to a horizontal and collapsed position under said body and below the wheel axle, and jack and attachment means on and at the top of said vehicle for lifting and attachment of said vehicle to a conveyance having a body constructed to firmly receive said attachment means at the base of said conveyance. body.

2. A hoisting apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said vehicle comprises a front axle and first steering means and wherein said mounting means is operatively associated with said first steering means and said front axle for enabling the control of said fork lift when it is mounted in said vertical position.

3. A hoisting apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein, said. vehicle further includes second steering means located at the rear of said vehicle for controlling said fork lift. when it is in a horizontal position.

4. A hoisting apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said mounting means comprises a first and movable carrier bracket rotatably mounted about said front axle for enabling folding under of said fork lift in its collapsed said arms, said arms being mounted on said platform soas to be foldable thereagainst.

7. A hoisting apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said jack includes a hydraulically operated piston and said attachment means comprises a disc which is movable in a vertical direction by said jack.

8. A hoisting apparatus as defined in claim 5- wherein stop means are provided on said stable carrier bracket for determining the terminal point of rotational movement of said movable bracket about said front axle when said fork lift is being placed in said horizontal position.

9. A hoisting apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said mounting means comprises pushing piston means located at the base of said vehicle, said piston means comprising a plurality of telescoped extendable sections, said fork lift beating against said piston means when said fork lift is in said horizontal position.

10. A hoisting apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said tower includes holding piston means therefor and piston means for effecting the extending of said sections.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,598,865 6/1952 Turner. 2,657,938 11/1953 Browne et al 214-394 X 2,900,099 8/ 1959 Cook.

FOREIGN PATENTS 529,605 11/1940 Great Britain.

GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner.

r R. L. BALLANTYNE, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A HOISTING APPARATUS COMPRISING AN AUTOMOTIVE FORK LIFT VEHICLE HAVING A BODY, A FORK LIFT, MEANS FOR MOUNTING SAID FORK LIFT ON SAID VEHICLE IN A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL POSITION TO ENABLE SAID FORK LIFT TO BE OPERATED FOR HOISTING PURPOSES AND FOR SWINGING SAID FORK LIFT TO A HORIZONTAL AND COLLAPSED POSITION UNDER SAID BODY AND BELOW THE WHEEL AXLE, AND JACK AND ATTACHMENT MEANS ON AND AT THE TOP OF SAID VEHICLE FOR LIFTING AND ATTACHMENT OF SAID VEHICLE TO A CONVEYANCE HAVING A BODY CONSTRUCTED TO FIRMLY RECEIVE SAID ATTACHMENT MEANS AT THE BASE OF SAID CONVEYANCE BODY. 